A new contest record
706.2400
highest overall ever cooked here
706.2400 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 703.9660 Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ set in 2022.
- old record 703.9660
- set 2022 by Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ
Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day Two) 2022
Jun 25–26, 2022 · Belvidere, IL · 📍 Boone County Fairgrounds · State championship
Reps: Charlie Brinza, Jeanne Titus · Prize money: $11,100
Heavy Smoke BBQ won Grand Champion at the Heritage Days BBQ Showdown (Day Two) on June 25, 2022 in Belvidere, IL at Boone County Fairgrounds, scoring 706.2400 in a field of 32 teams. RUSTY PIG BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 696.5144. Category winners: Chicken — Heavy Smoke BBQ (178.8572); Pork Ribs — SmokinGhost BBQ (177.7144); Pork — Heavy Smoke BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (178.8572). This is the 3rd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
610.70
median 674.74
706.24 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.86
- Pork Ribs 177.71
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 178.86
147.90
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2021 to 2022 — this edition picked out.
Entries
32
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
706.2400
Winning margin
9.7256
GC over RC
Field average
675.37
610.70706.24
median 674.74 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
687.3140
610.70706.24
10th place overall
Field spread
95.5424
winner to last place
Prize money
$11,100
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 11%
beats 89% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
61%
31 of 51 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.74 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,664
avg power rating going in · stronger than 97% of contests
Storylines (10 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
A statement win
9.7256
points clear of the field
Wider than 86% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The champion won by 9.7256 points — a wider margin than 86% of championships in the data.
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 3 tracked editions
Heavy Smoke BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 3 tracked editions.
- 2021
- 2022
A stacked field
1664
average power rating going in
Stronger than 97% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1664 power rating going in — stronger than 97% of every contest tracked.
- top seed IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (1913)
- 32 rated teams
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 12 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: QUE U and Can Country Outlaw BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: 4 LEGS UP BBQ and THE REAL SMOKIN ACES tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: RUSTY PIG BBQ and iBQ'n tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Chicken 8–9 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
Heavy Smoke BBQ won Chicken, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
Heavy Smoke BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 17th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 17th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 2nd
A contest record in pork
180.0000
best pork ever cooked here
Heavy Smoke BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 179.4400 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 179.4400
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Heavy Smoke BBQ (won 2021), Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ (won 2022).
- Heavy Smoke BBQ · 2021
- Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ · 2022
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Heavy Smoke BBQ · Pork
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2021 | Belvidere, IL | Boone County Fairgrounds | 43 | 687.9200 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ |
| Jun 24, 2022 | Belvidere, IL | Boone County Fairgrounds | 36 | 703.9660 | Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Jun 25, 2022 ← this one | Belvidere, IL | Boone County Fairgrounds | 32 | 706.2400 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | RUSTY PIG BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 174.8456 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 173.7144 | 171.9888 |
| Pork | 180 | 174.2628 | 170.8228 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 175.4056 | 172.5484 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
32 entries · top 706.2400 · median 674.7428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 3 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 4 | iBQ'n | |
| 5 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 6 | QUE U | |
| 7 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 8 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 9 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 10 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 11 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 12 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 13 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 14 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 16 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 17 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 18 | Risky Brisket | |
| 19 | Good Grefe! | |
| 20 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 21 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 22 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 23 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 24 | DB BBQ | |
| 25 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 26 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 27 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 28 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 29 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 30 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 31 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 32 | Skinny Pig BBQ |
Chicken
32 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 3 | QUE U | |
| 4 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 5 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 6 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 7 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 8 | iBQ'n | |
| 9 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 10 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 11 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 12 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 13 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 14 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 15 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 16 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 17 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 18 | DB BBQ | |
| 19 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 20 | Risky Brisket | |
| 21 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 22 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 23 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 24 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 25 | Good Grefe! | |
| 26 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 27 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 28 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 29 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 30 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 31 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 32 | Skinny Pig BBQ |
Pork Ribs
32 entries · top 177.7144 · median 170.8286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | QUE U | |
| 3 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 4 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 5 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 6 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 7 | DB BBQ | |
| 8 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 9 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 10 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 11 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 12 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 13 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 14 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 15 | iBQ'n | |
| 16 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 17 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 18 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 19 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 20 | Risky Brisket | |
| 21 | Good Grefe! | |
| 22 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 23 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 24 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 25 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 26 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 27 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 28 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 29 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 30 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 31 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 32 | Smokin Highwaymen |
Pork
32 entries · top 180 · median 169.1028 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 3 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 4 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 7 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 8 | Risky Brisket | |
| 9 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 10 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 11 | iBQ'n | |
| 12 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 13 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 14 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 15 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 16 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 17 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 18 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 19 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 20 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 21 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 22 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 23 | QUE U | |
| 24 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 25 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ | |
| 26 | Good Grefe! | |
| 27 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 28 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 29 | DB BBQ | |
| 30 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 31 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 32 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ |
Brisket
32 entries · top 178.8572 · median 168.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 3 | iBQ'n | |
| 4 | QUE U | |
| 5 | TRIPLE H BBQ | |
| 6 | THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | |
| 7 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 8 | Good Grefe! | |
| 9 | Second Hand Smoke SLV | |
| 10 | UGLY BABY BBQ | |
| 11 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 12 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 13 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 14 | Phoenix BBQ | |
| 15 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 16 | PORKRASTINATORS | |
| 17 | REDMULE'S BBQ | |
| 18 | JACKS PIT SHACK | |
| 19 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 20 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 21 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 22 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 23 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 24 | DB BBQ | |
| 25 | Smokin Highwaymen | |
| 26 | Can Country Outlaw BBQ | |
| 27 | Risky Brisket | |
| 28 | UP FROM THE PITS BBQ | |
| 29 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 30 | 43RD PARALLEL BBQ | |
| 31 | Skinny Pig BBQ | |
| 32 | Hump's Haven Backyard BBQ |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Turkey Smoke Series — Turkey Smoke
13 entries · top 177.7372 · median 170.8112